RICKY CAMPBELL/ Register Citizen
Lawrence Sweeny, of Morris, was one of many northwest Connecticut Democrats to welcome U.S. Senate candidate Chris Murphy to the party's rally Saturday night in Torrington. Sweeny is also campaign manager for 63rd assembly district candidate Mike Renzullo of Winsted.

TORRINGTON >> In nine days, U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy hopes to have his title changed to "U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy," celebrating a victory over Republican candidate Linda McMahon, and celebrating it in a town he believes is always worth celebrating in. On Saturday, Murphy stood front-and-center of a Connecticut Democrats rally in downtown Torrington, telling the audience he hopes to be back in a week reveling in the same enthusiasm.

Murphy, joined by 5th District candidate Elizabeth Esty, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, state Senate candidates Bill Riiska and Dan Seger, State Reps. Michelle Cook and Roberta Willis, along with 63rd assembly district candidate Mike Renzullo, told the choir singing the same song that the fight was almost done. But when election day comes, Murphy hopes he has enough to top McMahon.

The Senate hopeful walked in front of the gathering, reading from his smartphone a breaking news alert that the Journal Register Company's Connecticut cluster of media outlets had endorsed him over his Republican counterpart.

"The problem with Linda McMahon, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate," Murphy read from the New Haven Register's opinion staff, "is that you often don't know if she misspoke or really doesn't know what she's talking about."

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From there, Murphy went on to tell the crowd that he and McMahon are "on different planets" when it comes to politics, and that Democrats "know that liberty and freedom is what this should all be about."

Murphy was preceded by Esty, who is vying for Murphy's vacant seat as he seeks higher office. Esty, time and again, reminded northwest Connecticut Democrats that her race is extremely tight -- and although she was in Republican opponent Andrew Roraback's backyard, Esty told the group that they don't need Roraback, and they don't need him to join the party of "hell no."

Discussing bipartisanship, Esty said, "This is not such a time," claiming Congressional Republicans were out to sabotage President Obama and any progress in Washington, D.C.

Willis, the Democrat from Salisbury, representing most of the northwest corner, including parts of Torrington, said, "The Andrew Roraback that we all know... that's not the Andrew Roraback running for the United States Congress.

Willis will be running for another term in Hartford; she's facing claimed neighbor and Salisbury Republican Town Committee member Vivian Nasiatka.

Willis also mentioned watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, along with her son, when McMahon's television advertisement regarding voters supporting her Senate run and Obama's bid for four more years in the White House. Because of the scenario, and because of the placement, Willis thought the Comedy Central parody news show had pulled a quick one.

"[McMahon] is desperate," Willis said.

The night, which began with Wyman declaring she "wanted to come" to Torrington, had the lieutenant governor saying the election is in full-throttle mode, and the Democrats need to continue plugging away.